Seeing the world through a lens of good
Sun rises above the mountains in Woodstock, Vt. (Gareth Henderson File Photo)
In a world facing many challenges, we have a constant opportunity to contribute to the greater good by something we can do each day, within ourselves.
It’s easy to think progress is temporary, akin to a gestured drawing with lines that intersect to give the appearance of an image. The quick gesture line glides over the paper and reveals an insight about that moment. There are two ways to look at a gesture drawing: a bunch of scribbled lines that that are imperfect and chaotic; or seeing the beautiful curves and quick lines that express life, joy, freshness, and activity as they capture that suspended moment.
Reflecting on the past two years, progress can seem fleeting, similar to the constant change we see and hear about on a daily basis. But there’s another kind of constancy which has been around far longer than any pandemic: the goodness that is always alive within us. For every kind word, every hungry family helped, and every generous donation to a good cause, there are numerous other gifts of kindness being shared among mankind every day. This can be seen daily in our communities, here in New England and farther afield as well. I was touched to read this encouraging line up of positive community efforts in the Sarasota, Florida, area, including a recent work by a local artist, depicting the planet Earth and children of diverse backgrounds holding hands all the way around it.
The above story comes with the headline, “A world of good thoughts”. As we start 2022, it’s important to remember that we truly do have that world, where loving thinking is a powerful force and goodness has a lasting impact on people’s lives. In spite of conflict or fear, we have the opportunity to reject those negative influences and choose the good, which is deeply rooted in each of us. Then we can freely use that elevated thinking to uplift others and show the world there is a better path. Let’s cultivate that encouraging concept in our lives this year, and know we have the strength to bring out the good in our experience. Each instance of this is a step more hopeful not only for us, but for all our brothers and sisters around the globe. We can make each day a new step toward seeing the world through a clearer lens — one that’s illuminated by the goodness we all share.
— Gareth Henderson
